Balenciaga has made quite a reputation for turning the mundane into something jaw-dropping. Previously, its IKEA-lookalike bag and loud platform Crocs earned the brand extra points for notoriety. A new design is likewise making its rounds, but this time it is bigger and way more expensive: there’s a standout Balenciaga jacket from the label’s latest collection.
The new Balenciaga jacket has bewildered many who have witnessed it, which, if we’re being honest, is not a new reaction to avant-garde creations from luxury brands and fashion in general. But it was also singled out for bearing an eerie resemblance to a beloved character’s wardrobe. That person in question is Joey Tribbiani from the highly popular series Friends, and the outfit that sprung to people’s mind was what came together out of the desire to spite Chandler Bing in a tiff over a chair early on in the sitcom.
See the much talked about outerwear for yourself, here being strutted on the catwalk:
The jacket made its debut during this year’s Paris Fashion Week and formed part of Balenciaga’s AW 2018 collection. Available for pre-order over at Matches Fashion, it is exactly what you think it is: several layers of clothing to ensure that you’re more than protected from the season’s drop in temperature. And that is just one of the very few ways to describe it straightforwardly.
But in case you need more details, Matches Fashion provides ample description for this baffling outerwear. According to the site, the garment is actually created with seven layers of varying apparel, which include technical fleeces, plaid shirts and jersey hoodies. It has cuffed sleeves as well pockets that are proportionate to its oversized silhouette. There is also a coordinating hem as well as a drawstring hood. And unless you want to make an uncomfortable statement in the tropical weather, this one is designed especially for the cold. The piece comes in different colors and is made for both men and women.
It’s also available for purchase at US$7,180—and no, you’re not reading that wrong.
Buy: $7,180 at Matches Fashion
A possible reference to Friends?
The inspiration for the design has not been explicitly stated, but many people could not resist comparing it to Joey’s revenge in the bottle episode of Friend’s third season, The One Where No One’s Ready. After Chandler hid all of the Joey’s underwear, the latter did what was supposedly the opposite of what the former has done: Joey wore everything Chandler owned.
You can’t fault observers for comparing the Balenciaga jacket to this:
The two are essentially the same, save for the oversized construction and the Balenciaga tag: it’s clothes put on top of each other. Debra McGuire, costume designer for Friends and responsible for this particular look on Joey, cannot shake the similarity too. She’s left feeling flattered, however, and wholly welcomes the luxury coat.
Image credits: Getty Images, Matches Fashion, Comedy Central/NBC
